Lenovo ThinkPad T431s Ultrabook Arrives Discussion

The latest thin-and-light ThinkPad features significant new design elements, and an attractive new keyboard.

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I just read about this in the last hour. It looks good to me. I can't help but notice it has realistically the exact same footprint as my UX32VD so my 13" and this 14" same size and only about a 1/2lbs difference? I must give the T431s some respect on that. Also toughest Ultrabook out there.

I assume right now that only dual core and XXXXU CPU's. Would be nice to be wrong and see a Quad.

I would also like to see a 13 that if similar would be the very small/thin/light maybe under 3lbs. But this is business right? So I guess 14 is the sweet spot?

 

I'm really excited about the T431s myself. It really does look and feel like a modernized evolution of the classic ThinkPads many of us loved over the last decade. Sure, there will be ThinkPad "traditionalists" who hate the new keyboard design, the thin profile (which naturally means serviceability and upgrades are more complicated compared to older, thicker T-series ThinkPads), and some people will probably dislike the integrated touchpad buttons.

Still, this looks and feels like the direction ThinkPads need to move in if Lenovo wants the T-series to be a platform for technological innovation and not a PC series that's stuck in the past.

 

Can't wait for you to review. I hope it retains all the "feel" and durability. I am imagining at this point it does. On the touch pad, yea there will be those that won't want the change. On my notebook the new "no button" threw me at first. But somewhere between the 1st day and now (4 months?) I can't even tell anymore. I did not even really get I could press anywhere on the track pad. I always pressed the bottom. But well I can press the right side in the middle (vertical) and well it works fine.

It is what it is and others can still get a more traditional right? Sounds like it will pass your flex test, I hope the Keyboard and track pad do not dissapoint you.

I think many people misunderstand the low voltage CPU's. Yes they are not quads but people forget and or just dismiss that my 3533U 1.9GHz really needs to be compared to a 2.3/2.4GHz standard voltage dual. The greater dynamic clocks and all. Mine runs at just about 2.8GHz constantly even with Intel burn in stress. If people had a better understanding of that fact they likely might not dismiss the Low Voltage CPU's so easily. Yes not quads, but to run with the 2.5GHz i5 and sport a 17w TDP vs 35w TDP is both more accurate and easier for others to respect.

Starting price under $1000 is also very nice. It needs to be able to handle SSD I hope standard connector. No low RAM limit (4GB). And if money is no object the i7 1.9GHz or even better 2.0GHz. Then it would be a class leader.

On screen 900 OK fine. 250nit sounds low to me. Smsung has some 350/400nit and I have read mine is 450nit (I need better confirmation). When you review I know you will cover. I hope it works.

Should be clear I will be sitting this round out but who knows next round in the future maybe I will be getting a ThinkPad. My last was around the year 2002.

 

Lenovo needed to do something new with the touch pad, particularly on the X series notebooks, which has limited palm rest real estate. The solution to me was to make two keyboard set ups, one with the trackpoint and buttons, and another with a larger better touch pad, but no trackpoint or related buttons. That it would seem make both camps happy. The solution they've chosen seems to favor the touch padders. I'm not sure if I like it, but I'll reserve judgment until I use it. Hopefully, I can score a review unit before I have to spend any money to see if I like it.

 

Oh hey, that screen looks pret--zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

 

I wish companies would do more to innovate in the screen space. I am a fan of the trackpad on this model, though.

 

I hear you, J.R. ... I am a little surprised that Lenovo isn't offering a FHD upgrade option on this notebook considering that we're seeing more and more 14-inch Ultrabooks with 1920 x 1080 resolution. That said, 1600 x 900 is better than the pathetic 1366 x 768 screens that Lenovo probably would have used a year ago.

 

I do not see my self spending 1000+$ in order to take a 150:1 contrast screen that a laptop in the price range of 400$ comes with. If this is the case, the screen is just garbage.

A minimum of contrast is required so not our eyes get strained.

I'll wait to see the first reviews.

 

OK, so no Express Card or Thunderbolt?!

 

Isn't this pretty much the same thing as the X1C?

 

Nope, biggest differences: T431s has docking connector at the bottom, (optional) smartcard built-in, VGA and Gigabit Ethernet built-in and upgradable memory and storage (7mm 2.5").
The X1C is thinner and lighter, but is no longer upgradable and needs dongles for VGA and Smartcard.

 

Yep, I agree ^^^^^^^

I was surprised that the battery will not removeable (similar to the X1 carbon series).. but with the docking connector, is it possible to get an external battery accessory? This is doubtful, though. However, the quick charge does help make up for the limited power options. I'm hoping the AC adapter round -> slim will be available soon.

 

Is the ram 1333mhz(like the failure x1carbon) or 1600mhz?

 

What will this offer over the T430s?

It is marginally thinner,

but it does not have an optical drive, is only 0.3 pounds lighter, battery life, while better, doesn't seem exceptionally better, there are no dedicated volume controls, it uses a low voltage processor, and there is no option of dedicated graphics (from what I've read)...

It seems like you have to give up a lot for 1/3 of a pound and ~0.2 inches...

I like how they spin this though--extensive research to find out what customers want...haha. This looks to be more of an exercise to offer less (features) for the same, or more, money.